A
special feature once again on leroyfootball.com is a weekly update of
the Edgemont Panthers of Scarsdale, NY, located just above New York City.
The powerful Panthers were the second school to win 3 consecutive NYS
football titles since the inception of the state playoff system. The first
school to accomplish the 3-peat was our neighbors to the east, the Caledonia-Mumford
Red Raiders (1993-C, 1994 & 1995-D). The school narrowly missed out
on a possible fourth consecutive NYS title after a tough 14-8 loss to
Cambridge High of Section 2 in last season's eastern state semifinal.
The loss snapped an incredible 31-game winning streak. This year's team
has moved up to Class B from C due to an increase in enrollment. Edgemont's
John Gerspach once again will provide the detailed story behind this downstate
football powerhouse.

To keep the Greater Rochester Rochester area aware of the good high school
football played in the eastern portion of New York state we choose the
mighty Edgemont Panthers.

The
Edgemont Panthers 2002 Update is courtesy of John Gerspach

John
has lived in Edgemont for 18 years. He and his wife, Dori, have 3 children;
Mark, currently a junior in college, was the starting QB and cornerback
on the 1999 State Championship team (as well as a starting corner on the
1998 Champs); Brian, a senior at Edgemont H.S., is in his fourth season
on the Edgemont Varsity Football team and Elise, an 8th grader, plays
on the Modified Soccer team for Edgemont. John spent 6 years as a coach
of the Edgemont Youth Football teams (grades 3-6), is the Co-President
of the E-Club (the local high school sports booster organization) and
serves as the P.A. announcer at Edgemont's home football games.

After
winning four consecutive Class C Championships in Section 1, the Edgemont
Panthers move up to Class B for the 2002 season. The players and coaches
have been working hard since the end of last season in order to prepare
for the higher level of competition that this move will bring.

The Panthers
lost five players from last year's squad due to graduation, including
All State Guard Alex Bernstein and All League performers, Center Conor
Cronin and HB/DB Cameron Brooks. Assistant Coach Jim Clark also has
departed to take on the Head Coaching duties at John Jay High School.
Replacing Clark will be Assistant Coach Devin Hoover who joins Coach
Connolly's staff from Monroe Woodbury High School. The rest of the coaching
staff, First Assistant Coach Tim Connolly and Assistant Coach Steve
Boyer remains intact.

Injuries
have also reshaped the Edgemont lineup as the Panthers will be without
junior HB/DB Jesse Brooks (knee) and senior G/LB Mike Kwon (shoulder).
Both of these standout players are lost for the year. In addition, returning
senior SE/DB Cody Moffett has been ruled ineligible.

Despite
the losses noted above, Edgemont returns a talented squad. Three quarters
of last year's starting offensive backfield returns as senior captains
Jake Wittenberg (F/LB) and Brian Gerspach (QB/DB) are joined by junior
HB/DB Ben Bernstein. The offensive line will be anchored by returning
starters senior T/DT Billy Andrews and junior T/DE Scott Barsky. Senior
center Greg Anania will be counted on to play an important role in stabilizing
the middle of the line along with junior G/DE Jake Kaplan.

On the
defensive side of the ball, Andrews and Barsky will be the mainstays
on the line with senior DE Matt Anania expected to make an important
contribution. Wittenberg and junior TE/LB Kyle Reidy will be counted
on to provide the usual excellent linebacker play for which Edgemont
is noted. Bernstein and Gerspach will anchor the secondary.